Book Review: Rapunzel's Revenge

Book review: Rapunzel’s Revenge

Since the semester is finally over and we are on story time break, I actually get some free time to read again (imagine that!). In addition to my *usual* vampire/paranormal/creepy fluff reads, I spent the last week reading Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale. This was one of the most enjoyable graphic novels I have read in a long time. This is not the typical Brother’s Grimm Fairy tale in which a helpless girl locked in a tower is forced to wait until prince charming comes to her rescue.

Rapunzel’s Revenge is part fractured fairy tale, part American Wild West fantasy. The book starts off similarly to the typical Grimm’s story in which Rapunzel is taken from her parents after her father stole from a witch’s garden. Rapunzel lives with the witch “Mother Gothel” in a lush garden villa with anything she could ever want, until an act of rebellion lands her in her tree-top prison. She spends her time practicing tricks with her unbearably long hair that she braids into two long pigtails, until she finally manages to lasso her hair around a tree to freedom.

After meeting a lovable scallywag named Jack, the action never stops as they travel back to Mother Gothel’s Villa to rescue her real mother from the slave mines, and save the townspeople from Mother Gothel’s wrath.

This is a great juvenile chick-lit story with beautiful illustrations. Recommended ages 9-12

Starry Night Storytime

Today we read stories and sang songs about night time, stars, bedtime, and the moon.

Books Used:

Preschool:

How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers

In this story a little boy loves stars so much, that he decides to take one down from the sky to be his friend.

There Was a Bold Lady Who Wanted a Star by Charise Mericle Harper

This is a fun twist to the traditional song about the old lady who swallowed a fly.

Moonkey by Mike Thaler
A story about a monkey who loves the moon, but finds that the love for his friends is more powerful.

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle

A father climbs the tallest ladder he can find to get the moon for his daughter, and finds out that the moon is too big to carry.

Toddler:

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Many different animals go to bed in this delightful bedtime book.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

A classic bedtime book that needs no introduction :)

Songs/Rhymes:

Flannel Song:

Five Little Fluffy Sheep
(to the tune of Five little Speckled Frogs)

One little fluffy sheep
Trying to get you to sleep
Jumping over the meadow fence
Jump, Jump, Jump!

Then it looked and saw the moon
And it hummed a sleepy tune
While you were drifting off to sleep…
(optional- snore snore snore [noises])

(Continue until five…)

Five little Fluffy Sheep
Trying to get you to sleep
Jumping over the Meadow fence
Jump, Jump! Jump!

Then they looked and saw the moon,
And they hummed a sleepy tune,
Now you have drifted off to sleep.

Goodnight!

Fingerplay:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little star
How I wonder what you are.

Rhyme:

Star Light, Star Bright

Star Light, Star Bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Take this wish I wish tonight

Other Suggested reading:

When the Wind Stops by Charlotte Zolotow

A beautifully illustrated story about how everything in life is cyclical. Day turns into night, winter into spring, and every end is also a beginning to something else.

Star Shapes by Peter Malone

Beautiful Illustrations and simple lyrical text describe some of the constellations in the night sky.

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathman

An unobservant zookeeper is followed home by a group of zoo animals when a gorilla unlocks the cages behind him as he closes up for the night.

Sleepy Book by Charlotte Zolotow

A nicely illustrated book that describes different ways that animals sleep, from hibernating bears to curled up kittens.

Music Played Today:

Jack Johnson and Friends: Sing-a-longs and Lullabies for the Film CURIOUS GEORGE

Thank You for Visiting!

<3

Ms. Jen